Medium Format ... long may it live!

I´ve posted these in a different thread, but I´ll take a chance not offending anyone by posting them here too. TMAX100 developed in Caffenol-C-H 18min/20C normal agitation scheme. Lo and behold it worked!

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Are those the real tones it produced. I like them. Where did you get the materials/formula. I found a site but I need it in ounces.
 
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scottyb70 said:
Are those the real tones it produced. I like them. Where did you get the materials/formula. I found a site but I need it in ounces.
Click to expand...

Hi

TMAX100 takes to Caffenol very well. I get nice and clear negatives, no haze or discolouring. The coffee does not stain my negatives at all, though stand development at 60-70 minutes may do so. The tint is added later on.

Caffenol comes in different varieties. Some better than others for different types of film, some more speed enhancing than others, some giving less grain than others.

I use a variant of Caffenol-C-H, a general purpose version, but supposed to be better with faster films (TMAX400, TRI-X etc). The trick is to be accurate and consistent. You wouldn´t measure out you Rodinal 1+99 by the tablespoon, but supposedly that is what some Caffenol die hards seem to be doing, and then complain as to the poor results.

The recipe I use is:
Sodium Carbonate 54g/l
Ascorbic acid 16g/l
Instant coffee 40g/l
Potassium Bromide < 1g/l

if you use a 16Oz tank (Paterson 4 etc) which is 0.454 of a litre. 1 Once is 454g/16 = 28.4g.

For one shot in a 16Oz tank this should equate to:
Sodium Carbonate: 55/64 Oz (or just under 7/8 Oz)
Ascorbic acid: 1/4 Oz
Instant Coffee: 41/64 Oz (or just over 5/8 Oz)
Potassium Bromide: 1/64 Oz

I use Potassium Bromide to clear whatever haze may arise. I´ve been told that on TMAX100 one can dispense with it altogether where other films may require twice the amount given here. Haze is not much of a problem if you scan the film for digital printing, but more so for darkroom copying.

Mix the Sodium (washing soda, non-crystalline) in luke warm water (not too hot as the Sodium reacts with water and gives off heat) Soda into water, not the other way round. Its not caustic soda, but is none the less very alkaline, so don´t spill it. Add the ascorbic acid and let dissolve. If using Bromide, add it now. When settled add coffee, let dissolve and and settle. Top up with water to 16 Oz. Use within a half hour. Start with 15 minutes @ 68F, normal agitation 1 minute to begin with, then 10s every minute. Stop with water and fix normally.

For more information try Caffenol.blogspot.com The recipes are in metric, but there´s a lot more interesting stuff regarding timings for different films, first hand experiences and more.


Good luck.
 
Hasselblad 500C/M, AGFA Optima 100 film (I think) very expired, Zeiss Distagon 60mm. Pere LaChaise Cemetery, Paris, France in August this year. Frederic Francois Chopin.
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Two more that made me fall in love with medium format:

from a roll of Ektar 100 with the Hasselblad

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This film should have been Provia 50. I know it was Fuji Slide Film

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Another reason for loving MF - this was a grab shot with my RF645, taken without much time to compose carefully, and I couldn't get any closer without completely changing the shot due to the position of the balcony it was taken from. This is a crop with only about 30% of the full image and still gives a usable picture that captures the moment.
 

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